NOTES: RESEARCH PLAN

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NOTES: RESEARCH PLAN
The diagram on page 2 is a reasonably complete collection of research/applied items for consideration in
the overall plan for the Cognitive Sciences Program. The items are not necessarily independent, nor are
they intended to be the final word. In addition, they are in random order of priority. In short, this "straw-
person" will serve as points for discussion.
This document includes comments on each of the items shown on page 2.
Notes: Research Plan 1
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Anomalous Phenomena
(Mental)
Cognition
Perturbation
Transmission
Bash Piezoelectric Strain Gauge
Bas _ic Informational (Entropy/Meaning)
Restive Strain Gauge
Central Nervous System Other Thermodynamic
Metal (Bending)
NeuroNet Models Vector/Scalar Potential
Pendulums (Unear/Torsion/Blological)
Autonomic Responses
.ADDS Mechanical Systems (Balls/interferometers)
Inter-species Communications
Boundaries
Other Animals ARRbd
Definitions
Inertial Systems
ARRllod Human Sender
Other Physiology (Skin) Demarcation (Coordinates/Beacon)
Personality (Behavioral/Self Report-Q-50rt/MBTI) Bjisk
External Noise Source
Perceptual Models Inverse (Search) Atoms
Psychological Models (Motivation/Emotion) Nuclei (Mossbauer Effect)
Selection (Direct/Correlational) Photons
Physical Characteristics (Size/Composition)
Environment- Physical (GMF) Cells (Algae, Blood)
Type (Static/Dynamic)
lla)
Environment-Psychological (Set and Setting) Bacteria (Mutation-Salmone
One-in "n" (Forced Choice/Binary Search)
interference)
t
h
on
o
Environment-Physiological (Comfort) Quantum Systems (Neutron/P
Crystal Structure
Artificial
O)
f H
t
2
ra o
Response Type (Audio/Video/Left Hand) Molecular Structure (IR Spec
Redundancy (Multiple Pass/Multiple Detectors)
Theory (Quantum Measurement2eno)
/Nuclear)
i
Communication
c
Decision Augmentation Theory Random Number Generators (Electron
Analysis
Worm Holes (4-Dimensions) ARRlled
Mixed Vector/Scalar potential propagation Magnetic Domains
internal Noise Source Stochastic Causality Mixed
Training (Macroscopic/Operant) Electrons
Session Protocols
APPUBd
Living Systems (Humans/Fish-Behavioral)
Mlcromachines
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1. Anomalous Cognition
Anomalous Cognition (AC) is described within the context of a sensorial analogy. Information about the
source propagates via some transmission mechanism to a detector. In this model, the detector is usually
thought of as human, but other animals or machines could possibly be used. The research items are
divided into three broad categories; (1) Basic-primarily to understand the phenomena, (2) Applied-
primarily to improve the output of AC experiments, and (3) Mixed-both basic and applied.
1.1 Detector
For human detectors, basic research involves internal physiological/physical mechanisms. For the point
of discussion, all other variables (e.g., environment, psychology, etc.) can be thought as contributors to
the detector efficiency and fall under the applied domain.
1.1.1.1 Central Nervous System (CNS)
The central nervous system is the centerpiece for the detector basic research. It is important to identify
all possible sources of artifact in the previous pilot study and to replicate the earlier (Y-phase shifts. Once
an effect can be verified, the next step is to identify specific evoked responses to remote stimuli. One
technique is to use a.classical conditioning protocol to "train" the visual system to respond to a direct
(i.e., in the ears of the subject) audio stimulus. If this can be accomplished, it is a simple addition to
intermix direct audio stimuli with remote and sensorially isolated audio stimuli. The advantage here is
that the visual system's response to the local audio stimuli can be used to search for a similar signal in a
potentially noisy response to a remote audio stimulus.
Another interesting potential is to examine sensorially handicapped individuals. For example, is it possi-
ble to observe an ERF to an AC stimulus with someone who was blind from birth. In addition, we could
look at individuals who became blind at different times in life. We could also consider split brain individ-
uals, anq people with varying degrees of lateralization.
1.1.11 Neuronet Models
Neuronetwork technology is enjoying limited success in understanding traditional sensorial processing.
This research item is intended to explore that particular success applied to AC perception.
1.1.13 Autonomic Responses
All known senses appear to respond to external stimuli initially below the level of conscious awareness.
In the visual system, for example, a hard-wired response to photons striking the retina occurs approxi-
mately 100 ms after the on-set of the stimuli. Can a similar response to AC stimuli be identified? Can
that autonomic response be used to reduce noise in the overall response?
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1.1.1.4 ;,,,Ar cr,rrie~ ~'~mmunicattons
Can AC be used to direct the behavior of members of other species? Are some species better communi-
cators than others?
1.1.1.5 Q1ha Animals
If an autonomic response (or AC-evoked response) can be identified in humans, it is very likely that such
a physical sensorial system would not be unique to humans. What other animals possess similar sensorial
systems. One might argue that "lower" animals might require AC as a survival mechanism more than
humans to. MEGs routinely are used in animal studies.
1.1.2 Applied
1.12.1 r i' i 1 kh-
atin
t
r
g -
William Braud at the mind Science Laboratory has been demons
humans in response to AC stimuli. Can variations on this theme be used to identify correct from incor-
rect elements in a verbal AC response.
The search for personality that is predisposed toward a natural AC ability has been one of the major
efforts in research parapsychology. (Hint: Thus the name.) Not surprising, however, to first order it has
failed. (No slur intended-it is a very difficult problem!) Self-report (i.e., ask the person to answer tricky
personality-revealing questions about him/herself) methods are very unreliable. However, the Meyers
Briggs Type Indicator (MBT1) and the Q-Sort have shown some statistical significant results, but the
reliability has been poor. We have examined, in detail, a promising behavioral technique (i.e., ask the
person to do things rather than answer questions) called the Personality Assessment System. The PAS
has enjoyed great success in certain government applications, and while it is difficult to administer, it
continues to be promising to help us in the selection problem.
Another approach to this general problem is to examine independent measures of various types of cre-
ativity to search for correlations with AC functioning.
1.123 Percept'mal Models
Are there developed and standard models of perception that can help in understanding AC perception?
known,and AC perception,
For example, the parallel between subliminal perception, of which much is
of which little is known, is striking. Can subliminal training techniques be ported to the AC domain?
1.12.4 Psv hi`l Models
As the name parapsychology also implies, much has been done in attempting to construct/apply psycho-
logical models to understanding AC. Standard models have not been particularly successful in describ-
ing non-AC behavior and thus its application to AC is problematical. Some success with
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extroversionlintroversion scales has been observed, but I think it is driven mainly by the AC-data collec-
tion technique rather than anything basic to the functioning.
How are individuals, who possess a natural AC-ability or are susceptible to training, touna : ru n c7.a,upa..
of a direct method is simply to ask many people to participate in an AC experiment and pick the best. This
roximatel 1%). One promising correlational technique is that high
is particularly inefficient (i.e., app Y
scoring individuals on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibly Scale are also good AC detectors.
(CMF~
1.1.2.6 Fn^*Mn-110 -hl
Interesting new analysis of the geomagnetic field (GMF) has shown some weak correlation with AC abil-
ity. Is this real and can it be used to enhance the output quality? Are there other physical correlates?
In addition, are there other mentald/or physical human activities that correlate with the GMF or re-
lated'phenomena (e.g., DST-Change in Storm Time).
, n c eplpr-tinn (DirecArorrelational
1.12.8 Env:rnment Phvsioloeic(~orr-torta
Some of the obvious variables are: temperature, humidity, hunger and body stress. Are there more sub-
tle issues (e.g., left hemisphere distraction) that can improve the functioning?
1.1.2.9 AAffidd
Can a machine/computer be taught to detect AC data? How can current expert systems be applied to
understanding AC phenomena?
1 ). F.nvironr^?^-Psveholoeical
cholo deals with understanding the impact of our near-CILV LL V????_~??~
The field of environmental psy gY
human performance (e.g., color of the walls, music). Are there other aspects of the so-called setting that
are important (e.g., lack of clutter)? The psychological set determines how the staff interact with the
participants. What role do white lab coats play? Previous research has are that a warm, supportive
ti e the and inviting persona is important, but "touchy-feely" is too much. What a
illicit excellent AC functioning?
Are there variable with known diurnal variations that correlate with AC functioning?
Tladitional te AC responses havebeen mostly written and drawn. These methods are not necessarily opti-
e people
mal information processing modes for all people (e.g., som can describe verbally better than in
writing). If AC functioning is predominantly a right brain activity, asking highly lateralized people to
write/draw with their left hands may give more accurate responses.
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One variation on this theme was developed by Budzinski. He found that "simple" right-brain messages
were better "understood" if the left-brain was occupied. Can this technique be adapted to AC experi-
ments.?
Little formal investigation of redundancy appears in the literature. Sophisticated fuzzy-set analysis pro-
vides a legitimate method of applying redundancy.
1.1.2.12 Communication
AC techniques have been used in the past to "send" messages with 100% accuracy (e.g., a single 50-bit
binary message was flawlessly sent using a multiple pass procedure). Can modern and efficient tech-
niques (e.g., sequential sampling) improve the efficiency of such systems?
1.1.2.13 Creativily
Do independent measures of various creative abilities correlate with AC functioning.
1.1.2.14 Analysis
The development of analysis techniques for AC data has traditionally been a major part of the Cognitive
Sciences Program. Simple techniques such as rank-order have the advantage of being understood by
everyone, but those same techniques grossly underestimate the information transfer bit-rate. Yet com-
plicated techniques such as fuzzy set analysis are difficult to understand and thus are prone to criticism.
Nonetheless, adaptive fuzzy set analysis has been shown to be verypromising in developing a person-de-
pendent lexicon that can significantly improve the AC measure.
Can neuronetworks and/or genetic algorithms be applied to the fuzzy set approach to AC analysis?
1.1.3.1 Internal Noise Source
The general problem of "internal" imagery is a current and major topic in traditional cognitive science.
With some limited success AC practitioners have been able to separate internally generated "noise"
from target-related data. Can we improve on this? What training from traditional cognitive sciences can
be adopted?
1.1.3.2 Training (L4acroscopic/012eMnl)
TYaining has been particularly difficult. The good news is that we have not observed a so-called decline
effect (i.e., subjects start well and converge to the mean), but we also have not generally been able to
demonstrate learning. By macroscopic I mean specific protocols-lesson plan. By operant I mean can
response-neurons (hopefully identified in item 1.1.1.3 above) be trained by biofeedback techniques to
improve the quality of AC data?
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1.1.3.3 fission Protocol
Session protocols is a general area that includes feedback parameters, session structure (i.e., how long,
how often, technique), and data knowledge (i.e., who knows what when). Another important aspect of
session protocol is when does the session begin and/or end?
One test of this is the "hooded" feedback protocol. In the falcon experiment, the AC participant is blind-
folded jest after the session. With possible variations on a theme, the blindfold is removed at specific
times during a physical visit to the target site. Some the sites revealed are decoy targets and occurbefore
and after the actual feedback target.
1.2 Transmission
Understanding how data propagatesfrom the source to the detector is a basic research problem. One
driving issue is that precognition (i.et, data is received before-in 3-space-the source emits it) is real.
1.2.1 Basic
1.2.1.1 Decision Augmentation Theory
Decision Augmentation Theory (DAT) portents that the usual decision processes are augmented by sta-
tistical amounts of information-leakage from the future. One application of this model to 15 years of
random number generator data has been particularly successful. The model should be expanded and
tested in a number of different experimental domains.
1.2.1.2 Worm Holes l4-Dimensions.
Recent research in general relativity has suggested the possibility of realizable time travel through worm
holes in the 4-D manifold. Aboundary condition that emerged is that causality must be stochastic-not
unlike the conclusion forced by the precognition data. What is needed is some smart GR theorist to
calculate things for us.
1.2.13 Vector/Scalar Potential Propagation
The E&M vector/scalar (A,') potentials are under intense investigation. After the Aharonof (sp?)
Bohm effect demonstrated that A,c are fundamental aspects of E&M theory, it is hoped that A,b
waves could propagate. To date, theory and experiments have not confirmed such propagation. Howev-
er, if there were a possible A,1 propagation, it is likely that its properties would emulate some aspects of
AC. Thus we should look into it.
1.2.1.4 Stochastic Causality
Besides worm holes in 4-D, are there other implications of stochastic causality?
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1.3 Source
The source of AC data has implications for basic and applied research. lb date, no quantitative defini-
tion of the source exists. Characterizing the source is the topic under discussion.
1.3.1 Basic
1.3.1.1 jnfnrmati..^nal nine)
Informational entropy is a macroscopic aspect of the source (i.e., target), whereas meaning is a perceptu-
al aspect of the target. (It occurs to me at this writing, meaning cannot be a target property!) By entropy, I
mean Shannon type at this early stage of the thinking. Is there a form of "collected" entropy or informa-
tion compression that can be adapted to AC target descriptions?
13.12 Other Therm amic
Can-classical thermodynamics teach us about the limitations of the information transfer from the
source? We can not assume at this stage that information transfer occurs without energy transfer. What
are the thermodynamic consequences of this?
13.13 Vector/Scalar potential
Specifically, what are the source requirements that might emit Ad) waves?
1.3.2 Applied
132.1 Boundaries
What are the source boundaries? Are they hard-edged (probably not)? From a pragmatic point of view,
the judge must determine where to stop the analysis. For example, if the Golden Gate Bridge is the
target, does the City of San Francisco count since it is visible from the bridge?
132.2 Definitions
Traditional AC research has focused on visual and or functional aspects of the target.. There are other
dimensions that may be important. What are optimal target definitions for all these domains?
132.3 Human Sen er
In the so-called telepathy mode, the source information is "transmitted" by the mind of an observer. A
major amount of data (i.e., the Ganzfeld) has been collected under this assumption. It is obviously not a
necessary condition in that most of the SRI AC data was collected without a human sender, but to what
degree is a "sender" involved?
132.4 Demarcation (CoordinateSBeaconl
The universe is a near-infinite collection of potential targets. How is the intended target to be specified?
Virtually everything that has been tried (e.g., beacon, coordinates, encrypted coordinates, abstract
words, etc.) have been successful. What does this mean? Are some better than others? Why?
8
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Once the source of AC data has been identified, targets can be selected on the bases of the lack of noise
located at the source. Can this type of noise be used as masking?
13.2.6 Inverse (earchl
The forward direction for AC experiments involve the demarcation of a target in an attempt to obtain
information about it. The inverse problem (i.e., as in physics, a very difficult one) involves giving all
information about the target except is demarcation. Where is that target?
1.3.3 Mixed
1.3.3.1 Physical Characteristics (,Size/Composition)
Are atoms "visible" via AC techniques? How can mixed-sized targets be optimally detected?
i
133.2 Type (Static amid
Are there specific target types that constitute "easier" AC sources? If so, why?
1333 One-in-"n" (Forced Choice/Binary Search)
In early experiments (circa 1930s), most of the effort involved guessing a target symbol from a limited set
(usually 5). There is a massive database that shows consistent statistical evidence for an anomaly, but the
effect size is quite small (e.g., 0.02). There are a number of possibilities for this. Maybe there is a basic
research reason such as entropy. There are internal reasons as well. For example, when an individual
knows the set of targets, strong internal imagery results from memory and imagination that masks a puta-
tive AC signal.
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2. Anomalous Perturbation
Anomalous perturbation (AP) is the putative mental interaction with the physical world. Generally, the
potential target systems are divided into two size domains, micro and macro. Most of the items shod.
under Perturbation on page 2 have been used as AP targets. As I have said many times before, the litera-
ture is inconclusive mostly in that the researchers are simply unaware of potential confounding in-
fluences.
Research of AP should begin with an attempt to define more specifically what will be accepted as a genu-
ine AP effect. In parallel, detailed calculations should be conducted on specific historical experiments to
identify possible "normal" perturbations that may have occurred.
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